CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographles) 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicoil  Microreproductiont  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


r-e  WM 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checked  below. 


□ 


D 

D 


D 


Coloured  covers  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Covers  damaged  / 


youverture  endommag6e 


□    Covers  re?  tored  and/or  laminated  / 
Couverture  rcstauree  et/ou  pellicul^e 

Cover  title  missing  /  Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

I I    Coloured  maps  /  Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

r~71    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)  / 
LlJ    Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations  / 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

□    Bound  with  other  material  / 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 

Only  edition  available  / 
Seule  edition  disponible 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion  along 
interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de 
I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge 
interieure. 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restorations  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have  been 
omitted  from  filming  /  Use  peut  que  certaines  pages 
blanches  ajout6es  lors  d'une  restauration 
apparaissent  dans  le  texte,  mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait 
possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  pas  et6  filmees. 

Additional  comments  / 
Commentaires  supplementaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire  qu'il  lui  a 
etd  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet  exem- 
plaire qui  sont  peut-§tre  unique.'  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  image  reproduite, 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modification  dans  la  m6tho- 
de  normale  de  filmage  sont  indiques  ci-dessous. 

I      I  Coloured  pages  /  Pages  de  couleur 

I I   Pages  damaged  /  Pages  endommag6es 


D 


Pages  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 


0   Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
Pages  d^color^es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached  /  Pages  d6tachees 

[^   Showthrough  /  Transparence 

j      I   Quality  of  print  varies  / 


D 


D 


Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material  / 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^menta-"^. 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  c  ■  ra  •  'ips, 
tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to  er'  n .-.  *he  bf.st 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  tota.e  y^.x  ou 
partiellement  obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une 
pelure,  etc.,  ont  6t6  filmees  a  nouveau  de  fafon  k 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 

Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
discolourations  are  filmed  twice  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant  ayant  des 
colorations  variables  ou  des  decolorations  sont 
film6es  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la  meilleure  image 
possible. 


D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below  / 

Ce  document  est  filme  au  taux  de  reduction  indiaue  cl-desscus. 


lOx 

14x 

1Bx 

22x 

26x 

30x 

/ 

12x 


16x 


20x 


24x 


28x 


32x 


The  copy  filmed  hare  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Morisset  Library 
University  of  Ottawa 


L'exemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grflce  A  la 
qiniroshi  de: 

Bibliotlidque  IMorisset 
University  d'Ottawa 


The  images  appearing  here  art  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  ▼  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IN^aps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  images  suivantas  ont  iti  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  filmA,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmte  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  emprainte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autras  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commandant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fllmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  fttre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmi  it  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  it  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nteessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No    2l 


i.l 


1.25 


;f  IB 

IIIM 

Iw 

1^  IIIIM 

12.2 

1:  m  '""^ 

I. 

2.0 

1-  ^ 

U4_^ 

1.8 

1.4 

1.6 

^  /IPPLIED  IISAHGE     Inc 

^^-  t65J    C-j'it    Ma,n    Street 

S"^  Rochester.    New   York         146C9       USA 

'.aa  (716)    482  ~  0300  -  Pnone 

^SS  (716)    288  -  5989  -  fax 


I-  ^.- 

l*<sscf  ■ 


'i-c-^i- 


AND  OTHER 
mOKDYKE  BALLADS 


mOWARO  V.  SUTHERLAND 


liMite 


3537 

.U9A6B5 

1901 


m 


U  dVof  OTTAUA 


3900300'1292370 


'^'."■ijSti'feS^ 


BIGGS'S    BAR 


By  the  same  author 

JACINTA:    ,  N    IDYl.L 

Price,  75  cents 


B  !  (]  G  S'S     B  A  R 


.^nd  Other  Kloiidvke  Ballads 


BY 


iti:'^ff-\»*,i 


</ 


PHILADELPHIA  LONDON 

SAN   rRANCISCO  -^  ORONTO 

igoi 


'  <t    1 


■■■■II 


Copyright,  1901 
Bv  ANTHONY  J.  DRKXKI,    BIDDUK 


yCi 


fs 


'/  r  '.   \ 


,  \}^k^5 


11'^/ 


ro 


JOHN    M.    VER    MEHR 

IN  MEMORY  OF 
BEANS  AND  BACON  DAYS 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

BiGGs's  Bar 

The  Che-cha-ko j^ 

Our  Stove jg 

The  Sorrows  of  Hairy  Dick 22 

Omar  in  the  Klondyke 26 

A  Klondyke  Love  Song 20 

The  Dawson  City  Band ,1 

The  Klondyke  Mosquito ,8 

A  Miner's  Chief  Thought 4, 

Pimply  Pete     .     . 

4- 

The  Last  Sack  of  Flour 45 

How  Willie  Learned  to  Swear      ....  46 

The  Yukon  Pioneer -i 

vii 


Contents 

PAGE 

That  First  Flapjack. 54 

Sour  Grapes 60 

Appreciation  in  Dawson 62 

In  Winter 67 

Cooking  in  thk  Ki.ox;)vkk 69 

Bill  McGke 71 


vui 


BIGGS'S    BAR 

''  I  ^WAS  a  sultry  afternoon,  about  the  middle  of 
A        July, 

And  the  men  who  loafed  in   Dawson  were  feeling 

very  dry. 
Of  liquoi  there  had  long  been  none  except  a  barrel 

or  two, 
.  nd  that  was  kept  by  Major  Walsh  for  himself  and  a 

lucky  few. 


Now,  the  men  who  loaf  in  Dawson  are  loafers  to  the 

bone. 
And  take  it  easy  in  a  way  peculiarly  their  own ; 
i'hey  sit  upon  the  sidewalks  and  smoke  and  spit  and 

chew, 
And  wa«^ch  the  other  loafers,  and  wonder  who  is 

who. 


Klondyke  Ballads 

They  only  work  in  winter,  when  the  days  are  short 

and  cold, 
And  then  they  heat  their  cabins,  and  talk  and  talk  ol 

gold; 
They  talk  about  provisions,   and  sometimes  take  a 

walk. 
But  then  they  hurry  back  again  and  talk,  and  talk, 

and  talk. 

And  the  men  who  loaf  in  Dawson  are  superior  to 

style, 
ror  the  man  who  wears  a  coat  ^;/</vest  is  apt  to  cause 

a  siiiile ; 
•While  he  who  sports  suspenders  or  a  belt  would  be  a 

butt, 
And  cause  ironic  comment,  and  end  by  being  cut. 

The  afternoon  was  sultry,  as  I  said  seme  time  before ; 
'Twas  fully  ninety  in  the  shade  (in  the  sun  a  darn 

sight  more), 
And  the  men  who  sat  on  the  sidewalks  were,  one  and 

all,  so  dry 
That  only  one  perspired,  though  every  one  did  try. 

ID 


Klondyke  Ballads 

Six  men  were  sitting  in  a  line  and  praying  God  for  air ; 
They  were  Joaquin  Miller  and   "Lumber"   Lynch 

and  "  Stogey  "  Jack  Ver  Mchr, 
"  Swift-water  "  Bill  and  "  Caribou  "  Bill  and  a  sick 

man  from  the  hills, 
\V  ho  came  to  town  to  s\  'ap  his  dust  for  a  box  of  liver 

pills. 

I  said  they  prayed  for  air,  a!id  yet  perhaps  I  tell  a  liv^, 
For  none  of  them  are  holy  men,  and  all  of  them 

were  dry  ; 
And  so  I  guess  'tis  best  for  me  to  say  ji!St  what  I 

think — 
They  prayed  the  Lord  to  pity  them  and  send  them 

all  a  drink. 

Then  up  spoke  Joaquin  Miller,  as  he  shook  his  golden 

locks. 
And  i)icked  the  Dawson  splinters  from  his  moccasin:; 

and  socks 
(The  others  paid  attention,  for  whei    times  -^re  out 

of  joint 
What  Joaquin  Miller  '.Uters  is  always  to  the  point)  : 

II 


Klotidyke  Ballads 

"A    footsore,    weary    traveller,"    the    Poet    then 
began, 

"  Did  tell  me  many  moons  ago,— and  oh  !  I  loved 

the  man. — 
That   IJiggs  who  owns   the   claim   next   mine   had 

started  up  a  bar. 
Let's  wander  there  and  quench  our  thirst."     All 

answered,  "  Right  you  are." 

Now,  Biggs  is  on  Bonanza  Creek,  claim  ninety-six, 
below ; 

There  may  be  millions  in  it,  and  there  may  not ; 
none  will  know 

Until  he  gets  to  bedrock  or  till  bedrock  comes  to 
him — 

For   Arthur    takes   it   easy  and   is   strictly   in   the 
swim. 


It  is  tnie,  behind  his  cabin  he  has  sunk  a  mighty 
shaft 

(Whe.;  the  husky  miners  saw  it  they  turned  aside 
and  laughed) ; 

12 


Klondyke  Ballads 

But  Biggs  enjoys  his  bn-c-    and  smokes  his  pipe  and 
sings, 

Content  to  be  enrolled  among  the  great    Bonanza 
Kings. 

'Tis  full  three  miles  from  Dawson  town  to  Biggs' s 

little  claim ; 
The  miners'  curses  on  the  trail  would  make  you  blush 

with  shame 
The  while  they  slip,  or  stub  their  toes  against  the 

roots,  or  sink 
Twelve  inches  in  the  mud  and  slime  before  their  eyes 

can  wink. 


But  little  cared  our  gillant  six  for  roots,  or  slime,  or 

mud, 
For   they  were  out   for   liquor  as   a   soldier  is  for 

blood ; 
They  hustled  through  the  forest,  nor  stopped  until 

they  saw 
Biggs,   wrapt    in    contemplation,   beside    his   cabin 

door. 

13 


Kiondyke  Ballads 
He  rose  to  greet  his  visitors,  and  ask  them  for  the 


news. 


And  said  he  was  so  lonesome  that  he  always  had  the 
blues ; 

He  hadn't  seen  a  paper  for  eighteen  months,  he 
said. 

And  that  had  been  in  Japanese— a  language  worse 
than  dead. 

They  satisfied  his  thirst  for  news,  then  thought  they 
of  their  own, 

And  Miller  looked  him  in  the  eye  and  gave  a  little- 
groan. 

And  all  six  men  across  their  mouths  did  pass  a  sun- 
burnt hand 

In  a  manner  most  deliberate,  which  all  can  under- 
stand. 


"  We  heard  you  kept  a  bar,  good  Biggs,"  the  gentle 

Poet  said, 
"And  so  we  thought  we'd  hold  you  u}.,  and  wc  arc 

almost  dead  ! ' ' 

14 


Klondyke  Ballads 

He  said  no  more.     Biggs   understood,  and  thusly 

spoke  lo  them 
In   accents  somewhat   British  and  prefixed  with  a 

"Hem!" 

•  The  bar  you'll  find  a  few  yards  hence  as  up  that 

trail  you  go ; 
I  never  keep  my  liquor  in  the  blooming  'ouse,  you 

know. 
Just  mush  along  and  take  a  drink,  and  when  you  are 

content 
Come  back  and  tell  me,  if  you  can,  who  now  is 

President." 


They  mushed  along,  those  weary  men,  nor  looked  to 

left  or  right. 
But  thought  of  how  each  rooling  drink  would  trickle 

out  of  sight ; 
And  very  soon  they  found  the  goal  they  came  for 

from  afar — 
/  keg,  half  full  of  water,  in  a  good  old  gravel  bar .' 


15 


tmm 


Klondyke  Ballads 


A 


THE  CHK-CHA-KO* 

POOR  chc-chd-ko  once  arrived 
At  Dawson  by  the  Yukon  sifle. 
His  eyes  were  big,  his  boat  was  small, 
Of  outfit  he  had  none  at  all- 


Had  bought  one  in  the  Oolden  West, 
But  lost  it  on  the  Chilcoot's  crest ; 
And  lived  so  long  on  beans  and  pork 
That  he  had  hardly  strength  to  walk. 

He  made  his  vessel  good  and  fast 
And  trod  the  muddy  banks  at  last ; 
Then  wandp     \  through  the  dirty  town 
And  sought  a  place  to  settle  down. 

♦  Cht-cka  ko-i.  e.,  n=w-comer-an  Indian  word.  In  the  Klon- 
dyke a  man  was  considered  a  ckt-ckh-ko  until  he  had  seen  the  ice 
Wave  the  Yukon. 

16 


Klondyke  Ballads 

He  wandered  here,  he  wandered  there, 
Ai  '\  heard  the  husky  miners  swear, 
And  curse  their  luck  and  curse  the  ground 
Wherein  no  gold  dust  they  had  found. 

"  I  settles  this  yere  matter  now," 
Said  he,  and  wiped  his  manly  brow. 
•'  I  aint  the  man  to  hang  about 
A  played-out  camp.     I  just  gets  out. " 

And  then  he  borrowed  pick  and  spade, 
And  very  soon  a  hoic  had  made 
Behind  McCarthy's  dancing  hall. 
But  found  no  nuggets,  large  or  small. 

"Gol  dam  the  luck,"  he  sadly  said, 
And  scratched  the  foliage  on  his  head  ; 
"  I  guess  I'll  make  a  di-rect  line 
Back  home  and  let  these  suckers  mine." 

And  so  he  pawned  his  extra  jeans. 
And  filled  his  boat  with  pork  and  beans ; 
And  ere  the  sun  was  sinking,  he 
Was  drifting  onward  to  the  sea. 
17 


K/oiiifyke  Ballads 


OUR    STOVK 


w 


HHN  we  bought  our  stove  in  Dawson 
W'c  were  jubilant,  and  thought 
'I'hat  we  owned  the  finest  baker 

Two  men  had  ever  bought. 
Said  my  partner,  "  She's  a  beauty." 

"  She's  a  hummer,  Jack,"  said  I, 
"  And  she'll  burn  all  sorts  of  lumber, 

Whether  wet  wood,  damp,  or  dry  " 


Thirty  dollars,  sir,  she  cost  us 

( 'Tis  enough  to  make  one  weep  ! ) 
Yet  we  pitied  the  poor  devil 

Who  would  sell  a  stove  so  (heap. 
And  we  jiacked  it  to  our  cabin 

On  a  scorching  summer's  day  ; 
Sixty  pounds  it  weighed,  plus  stove-pipe- 

Yct  we  sniggered  all  the  way. 
I8 


(i 


Klondyke  Ballads 

So  that  evening  we  lit  her, 

And  wc  watched  our  beauty  burn 
Till  the  heat  within  the  cabin 

Gave  my  partner  there  a  turn- 
Made  him  deathly  sick  at  stomach— 

And  I  scorched  my  only  shirt 
\Vhile  I  watched  our  beans  and  bacon 

Lest  our  victuals  should  be  hurt. 


You  bet  she  was  a  hummer  ! 

But  she  hummed  too  much  for  us 
On  those  blazing  days  of  summer, 

And  we'd  stand  outside  and  cuss. 
And  we'd  take  our  grub  and  cat  it 

On  our  porch,  where  likewise  came 
Gay  mosquitoes  singing  anthems ; 

But  the  stove,  sir,  made  us  game. 

"  When  the  winter  comes,  old  chappie, 
Our  stove,"  said  Jack,  -we'll  biess.' 

Think  of  fifty  below  zero  !" 
And  I  sadly  murmured  :   "  M'yes. " 
»9 


li 

I 


Klondyke  Ballads 

So  we  cooked  our  meals,  and  sweated 
While  we  ate  them,  for  we  knew 

In  a  nonth  or  so  the  weather 
Would  be  cold  enough  for  two. 


When  the  winter  came  our  hummer 

Looked  a  bit  the  worse  for  wear ; 
Her  top  was  sagging  inward 

Which  we  couldn't  well  repair. 
The  damper,  too,  was  cranky, 

And  the  oven  seemed  to  hold 
Some  secret  understanding 

With  our  enemy,  the  cold. 


We  could  fill  that  stove  with  dry  wood. 

We  could  cram  it  up  with  green, 
But  the  shavings  wouldn't  catch,  sir; 

Such  a  stove  we'd  never  seen. 
And  our  bacon  wouldn't  sizzle. 

And  our  coffee  almost  froze  ; 
And  we  shivered  up  our  backbones 

And  we  shivered  in  our  toes. 
20 


KlofKfyke  B,  J /lads 

Our  cabin  was  an  ice  chest, 

And  we  nearly  froze  to  death 
While  we  blew  upon  the  fire 

With  a  scnii-frozcn  breath, 
And  we  crawled  within  our  blankets, 

Sick  at  heart  and  fain  to  curse. 
Talk  of  suffering  !     No  torture 

Man  devised  was  ever  worse. 

Now  'tis  springtime,  and  we've  purchased 
Another  and  we  trust 

It  will  act  a  little  better, 

For,  to  tell  the  truth,  we're  bust. 

And  if  this  won't  cook  our  victuals- 
Beans  and  bacon,  little  more— 

We  shall  auction  off  our  matches 
And  eat  our  mcnn  raw. 


21 


Klondykc  Ballads 


THE  SORROWS  OF  HAIRY  DICK 


w 


HEN  Piairy  Dick  had  staked  his  claim 
(Some  fifty  miles  from  Dawson) 

He  limped  to  town — for  he  was  lame- 
To  get  the  same  recorded. 

It  took  him  just  one  year  to  hit 

A  spot  with  any  gold  in  it, 
]5iJt  now  he  had  it,  sure. 


So  Hairy  Dick  did  stand  in  line 
Outside  the  Recorder's  Office 

And  thought  of  flowers,  fruits,  and  wine, 
And  other  earthly  follies. 

'Twas  forty-two  degrees  below 

The  while  he  stood  ujjon  the  snow. 
And  the  merry  wind  blew  strong. 


i\ 


Klondyke  Ballads 

The  fiftieth  man  was  Hairy  Dick 
Outside  the  Senkler  portal ; 

And  some  of  them  were  feeling  sick 
At  heart,  and  some  at  stomach. 

But  still  they  stood  as  grim  as  Death, 

And  just  as  pale,  and  fought  for  breath 
That  froze  upon  their  beards. 

Now,  Hairy  Dick  had  lily  feet 
Encased  in  sacks  of  gunny  ; 

The  snow,  of  course,  gave  forth  no  heat 
And  they  were  nearly  frozen. 

His  'aby  lips  were  turning  blue  ; 

His  no.se  and  ears  were  smarting,  too ; 
And  then  he  moved  up  one  ! 

Then  Hairy  Dick  began  to  jump 

In  elephantine  antics. 
And  said  he'd  give  his  summer'.s  dump 

To  get  his  claim  recorded. 
But  there  were  no  officials  near 
Or  he  had  lost  the  same,  I  fear. 

Then  where  would  he  have  been  ? 
23 


Klondyke  Ballads 

So  Hairy  Dick  just  did  his  best 

To  foster  circulation ; 
He  never  gave  his  feet  a  rest 

For  seven  weary  hours. 
By  slow  degrees  he  reached  the  door 
Where  hope  is  lost  for  evermore — 

And  then  they  closed  the  office  ! 

I  cannot  write  what  Hairy  said 

About  the  poor  officials  ; 
His  face,  erst  white,  grew  very  red, 

His  very  blood  was  boiling. 
His  language  was  not  choice,  but  strong  ; 
.\nd  all  that  night  he  sang  his  song 

As  he  had  danced  all  day. 

Ncxi  morning  he  awoke  at  three 
And  ate  some  beans  and  bacon, 

Then  hurried  back  ;  the  fifteenth  he 
To  wait  for  Mr.  Senkler. 

'Twas  half-past  twelve  before  he  passed 

Benumbed  with  cold  the  door  at  last, 
And  fainted  near  the  stove. 
24 


if 

i 


;  1 

ii 


^■■^■liii 


Klondyke  Ballads 

"  'E's  got  a  fit ;  let's  chuck  'im  out," 
Thus  cried  the  men  around  him  ; 

But  Hairy  gave  a  mighty  shout 
And  consciousness  recovered. 

"  I'm  in,  and  I  am  in  to  stay," 

He  shrieked,  and  wiped  the  sweat  away 
From  off  his  grimy  forehead. 

By  three  o'clock  had  come  his  turn 
To  plead  before  the  window 

Where  husky  miners  sometimes  learn 
That  there  are  always  others. 

And  Hairy  Dick  was  told  his  claim 

Hail  long  ago  been  staked  ;  the  same 
Had  also  been  recorded. 

He  spake  no  word,  but  straightway  fell 
And  from  the  room  was  carried  ; 

And  even  now  the  miners  tell 
Of  Hairy  Dick's  departure. 

And  one  and  all  maintain  him  smart 

To  own  a  somewhat  damaged  heart 
And  work  it  out  so  quick. 


.» 


I 


If 


Klondyke  Ballads 


OMAR  IN  THE  KLONDYKE 

''  I  ^HIS  Omar  seems  a  decent  chap,"  said  Flap- 

*        jack  Dick  one  night, 
When  he  had  read  my  copy  through  and  then  blown 

out  the  light. 
"I  ain'i  much  stuck  on  poetry,  because  I  runs  to 

news, 
But  I  ap[)reciates  a  man  that  loves  his  glass  of  booze. 


"  And  Omar  here  likes  good  red  wine,  although  he's 

pretty  mum 
On  li(juors,  which  is  better  yet,  like  whiskey,  gin,  or 

rum  ; 
Perhaps  his  missus  won't  allow  him  things  like  that 

to  touch, 
iVnd  he  doesn't  like  to  own  it.     Well,  I  don't  blame 

Omar  much. 

?6 


Klondyke  Ballads 

"Then   I  likes  a  man  what's  partial  to  the  ladies, 

young  or  old, 
And  Omar  seems  to  seek  'em  much  as  me  and  you 

seek  gold  ; 
I  only  hope  for  his  sake  that  his  wife  don't  learn  his 

game 
Or  she'll  put  a  chain  on  Omar,  and  that  would  be  a 

shame. 

"His  language  is  some  florid,  but  I  guess  it  is  the 
style 

Of  them  writer  chaps  that  studies  and  burns  the  mid- 
night ile ; 

He  tells  us  he's  no  chicken  ;  so  I  guess  he  knows 
what's  best, 

And  can  hold  his  own  with  Shakespeare,  Waukeen 
Miller,  and  the  rest. 


"But  I  hope  he  ain't  a  thinkin'  of  a  trip  to  this 

ycre  camp. 
For  our  dancin'   girls  is  ancient,  and  our  litiuor's 

somewhat  damp 

27 


V 


:•        ♦ 


i 


Klondyke  Ballads 

By  doctorin'  with  water,  and  we  ain't  got  wine  at 

all, 
Though  I  had  a  drop  of  porter— but  that  was  back 

last  fall. 

"  And  he  mightn't  like  our  manners,  and  he  mightn't 

like  the  smell 
Which  is  half  the  charm  of  Dawson  ;  and  he  mightn't 

live  to  tell 
Of    the  acres  of   wild   roses  that   grows  on   every 

street ; 
4nd  he  mightn't  like  the  winter,  or  he  mightn't  like 

the  heat. 

"  So  I  guess  it's  best  for  Omar  for  to  stay  right  where 

he  is, 
And  gallivant  with  Tottie,  or  with  Flossie,  or  with 

Liz ; 
And  fill  himself  with  claret,  and,  although  it  ain't 

like  beer, 
I. wish  he'd  send  a  bottle — just  one  bottle — to  us 

here." 

28 


I  f 


Klondyke  Ballads 


A  KLONDYKE  LOVE  SONG 

'lyl/ILL  you  love  me  as  you  loved  me  when  the 
'  "       snow  w-    on  the  ground 
And  Dawsoi-  is  chilly  as  a  tomb  ? 

Will  you  love  mt  us  you  loved  me  when  we  heard 
the  dismal  sound 
Of  a  hungry  Siwash  howling  in  the  gloom  ? 
Will  you  love  me  as  you  loved  me  when  the  birds 
had  flown  away 
From  the  forests  of  the  Klondyke,  vast  and  still  ? 
Will  you  love  me  as  you  loved  me  when  we  watched 
the  North -lights  play 
In  the  heavens  when  the  nights  were  long  and  chill  ? 

Will  you  love  me  as  you  loved  me  when  each  hour 
was  a  trial 
And  the  soul  grew  sick  of  sorrow,  sick  of  pain  ? 
Will  you  love  me  as  you  loved  me  when  we  hungered 
for  a  smile 
From  a  sun  we  never  hoped  to  see  again  ? 

29 


i   !■ 


^rj» 


Klomiyke  Ballads 

Will  you  love  nic  as  you  loved  mc  when  it  seemed 

we  lived  apart 
From  the  others,  though  imprisoned,  and  were  true  ? 
Will  you  love  mc  vxs  you  loved  mc  when  you  told  me 

that  your  heart 
Was  yearning  for  a  love  it  never  knew? 

Will  you  lo\e  mc  as  you  lo\ed  me  when  we  sat  beside 
the  stove, 
And  the  wind  was  almost  bursting  in  the  door 
Of  the  cal)in  where  I  met  you  and  I  told  you  of  my 
love, 
And  you  promised  to  be  mine  for  evermore? 
Will  you  love  mc  as  you  loved  mc  when  your  eyes 
were  wet  with  tears 
And  I  bade  you,  love,  be  patient  with  your  lot? 
Will  you  love  me  as  you  loved  mc  when  we  meet  in 
later  years 
And  the  trials  of  the  Klondyke  are  forgot  ? 


30 


\iy 


Kwiuhke  Jhtliails 


THE  DAWSON  CITY  BAND 

A  PROMISED  joy  forever  was  the  Dawson  Cit) 
Band, 

The  band  wc  all  remember  in  the  spring  of  98; 
Its  leader  was  a  Hebrew,  long  of  hair  and  deft  of 
hand, 

Good  at  cooking  as  at  music,  though  he  found  it 
out  too  late. 
He  had  learned  to  play  the  fife. 
And  had  risen  so  in  life 
That  he  came  to  be  the  leader  of  the  city  band  in 
Dawson. 

In  the  band  there  was  a  fiddler,  very  tall  and  very  thin. 
Dressed  in  mackinaws  and  top-boots,  down  at  heel 
and  out  at  toe. 
In  appearance  he  was  sober,  and  one  felt  he  could 
not  sin 

Except  when  making  music  on  his  instrument  of 
woe. 

3« 


,j 


;    V 


\'\ 


ii 


Kloudxhf  Jiallaih 

He  was  nurturing  a  rough, 
And,  though  his  friends  would  stofT, 
He  would  tell  them  very  sadly  that  he'd  leave  his 
bones  in  Dawson. 

His  brothc-  Mew  the  cornet.     He  was  broad  and 
deep  of  lung — 
Sported  overalls  and  gumboots  and  a  jack-knife  at 
his  side. 
Had  he  ever  played  in  'Frisco  he  would  surely  have 
been  hung, 
For  his  cars  weren't  built  for  music  ;  and  though 
he  always  tried 
To  play  his  level  best. 
He  could  handicap  the  rest. 
And  win  byseveral  seconds  ovcrallthe  band  in  Dawson. 

Then  a  sickly  individual  crossed  the  Chilcoot  with  a 
flute 
And  a  pair  of  German  stockings  and  a  pound  or 
so  of  beans ; 
And  when  the  bag  was  empty  then  he  hired  out  to  toot 
In  the  hopes  of  charming  nuggets  to  the  pockets 
of  his  jeans. 

32 


I 


Khndyke  fiallads 

An  unfortunate  mishap 
Had  roblicd  him  of  his  cap, 
And  he  had  to  march  bareheaded  when  the  band 
paraded  Dawson. 

The  trombone  man  was  husky,  and  his  cheeks  were 
fat  and  red. 

And  his  stomach  was  tremendous,  but  he  lost  it  in 
the  fall ; 

And  the  way  he  played  that  trombone  was  enough  to 
rouse  the  dead. 

But  he  liked  to  earn  his  wages— so  he  didn't  mind 
at  all. 
His  legs  were  very  short, 
And  his  clothing  had  been  bought 
Of  the  man  who  was  the  leader  of  the  city  band  in 
Dawson, 

The  last  of  the  musicians  was  the  man  who  beat  the 
drum, 
A  surly  individual  with  the  temper  of  a  goat ; 
He  once  had  been  a  blacksmith,  and  now  he  made 
things  hum, 
'  33 


Klondyke  Ballatis 

Although  (he  said  so  proudly)  he  could  never  play- 
by  note. 
Although  he  knew  no  fear, 
He  was  always  in  the  rear 
Of  the  gallant  band  that  marched  along  the  dirty 
streets  of  Dawson. 

The  leader  had  an  organ,  of  the  kind  we  love  not 
much. 
And  sometimes   ground  a  solo  and   sometimes  a 
tercet 
With   the  flutist  and   the  drummer;    he  sometimes 
sang  in  Dutch, 
Being  audible  distinctly  in  spite  of  a  sestet. 
Then  he  passed  around  the  plate, 
And  the  miners  thought  it  great, 
And  showered  little  nuggets  on  the  first  real  band  in 
Dawson. 

Every  morn  the  band  was  gathered  near  the  Pioneer 

Saloon 
.     And  played  for  two  good  hours,  while  the  mining 
magnates  sat 

34 


Klor  y  ^,.  Ballads 
On  the  edges  of   the  -cJcn  -Ik     nH 

And  once  raised  fifty  dollars  for  th. 

y  uojiars  tor  the  man  who  had 
no  hat. 

Then  the  band  went  home  to  eat 
And  to  rest  its  tired  feet 


son. 


After  dark  ,he  ,.„,  „,,  „,„„^^,  .^ 

Sisters'  Hail,  "^^ 

Where  the  fortune-favored 
down  his  drink ; 
Where  the  torn  and  lorn  ./„,,,.,,  i,  ;„,, 


ball 


%  the  pleasure-loving  lady  who  is 
to  think. 


miner  likes  to  lower 
ted  to  the 
never  knoM'ii 


There  it  played  till  one  or  two, 
And  the  miners  were  so  few 


35 


^1 


Klondyke  Ballads 

The  band  took  jjart  at  weddings  ;  it  made  music  at 
a  birth 
When  the  baby  took  to  slecjjing  and  gave  it  half  a 
( hancc. 
!  t  was  big  on  each  occasion  when  beneath  the  frozen 
earth 
The  miners  left  their  partners  arrayed  in  flannel 
pants ; 
And  men  would  wink  and  say, 
Making  music  seemed  to  pay, 
And  they  tried  to  get  positions  in  the  little  band  of 
Dawson. 

But  the  fiddler  cau^.it  a  fever  and  expired  in  dire  pain. 
Helped  to  heaven  by  a  doctor  from  a  small  New 
England  town, 
Who  gave  him  something  nasty  and  said  he'd  call  again, 
Although  he  had  no  need  to  when  his  medicine 
was  down  ; 
For  his  drugs  had  all  got  mixed. 
And  the  fiddler  had  been  fixed, 
And  they  couldn't  find  another  one  in  all  the  town 

of  Dawson. 

36 


Klondyk,   Ballads 


Then  the  trombo.e  man  got  tipsy  and  was  set  to 
sawnig  wood, 

And  the  drummer  and  the  leader  had  a  fight  and 
would  not  speak  ; 

And  .he  man  who  played  ,hc  corne,  .ho.ght  the  ,f„e 
was  ripe  and  good 

To  skip  with  all  .he  profi,s-s„  he  homeward  made 

a  sneak ; 
And  the  flutist  took  a  lay 
On  a  bench  claim  far  away 

And  .was  wime.. ere  we  saw  h,m  begging  g„5,,,i„ 
in  Dawson. 

■So  .he  t,„,  ,,„„,^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^  ^__ 
Bu.  one  ,s  maling  „o„ey_,Uey  S„.ro  ,n  his  s.ore  • 

" '.ere  he  doles  ou.d„s,,o  people  on  .heir  wa.:; 
or  their  picks, 

And  as  he  ground  the  organ  grinds  the  mmers 
only  more.  ' 

But  the  band  itself  is  gone, 
And  the  loafers,  all  forlorn, 

^Vh-sper  sadly  of  the  hours  when  u  cheered  them  up 
in  iJawson. 


W 


J'S»  .WW^l 


Klondxkc  Ballads 


THE  KI.ONDYKE  MOSQUITO 


THERE  ain't  no  insect  fleeter  than  the  musical 
mos(iuitcr 
'I'hat  summers  in  the  Klondyke  when  the  snow  is 
off  the  ground  ; 
It  can  fly  a  mile  a  minute,  and  a  fallin'  brick  ain't 

in  it 
When  it  strikes  your  little  bald  spot  with  a  sort  of 

rushin'  sound, 
Witharoarin',  snortin',  whizzin",  a  most  onearlhly 

sound. 

With  an  instinct  that  is  hellish  it  will  light  upon  and 

relish 
A  pay -streak,  sir,  wherever  your  anatomy  is  bare ; 
Anil  if  you  try  to  harm  it,  you  only  can  alarm  it. 
For  when  you  think  to  smash  it  the  insect  isn't 

there ; 
And  you  swear  for  many  minutes,  but  the  insect 

isn't  there. 

38 


Klondyke  Ballads 

You  can  measure  it  by  inches,  and  the  boldest  fellow 
winces 

When  he  hears  it  hummin'  Wagner  in  a  key  that's 
pitched  too  high  ; 
And  you  wish  your  skin  was  harder,  for  you  hate  to 
l>c  a  larder, 

And  you  know  that  when  it's  hungry  it  will  come 
to  you  for  pie — 

For  the  blood  of  us  poor  miners  to  mosquiters  is 
but  pie. 


You  will  nc\cr  find  it  yawnin'  though  it  drills  from 
night  to  mornin'. 

And  seeks  to  aid  digestion  by  singin'  through  its 
nose  ; 

And  its  drill  is  even  sharjjcr  than  the  wits  of  Captain 
Harj)cr 

Or  the  wind  that  every  winter  through  your  lonely 

cabin  blows — 
How  the  miners  curse  the  winter  when  the  wind 

of  heaven  blows ! 

39 


aiiCj 


Klondyke  Ballads 

The  inos(iuitcr  bites  you  slcci)ip.'  ;  it  will  bite  you 

when  you're  crcepin', 
With  a  pack  upon  your  shoulders,  on  a  long  and 

slojipy  trail  ; 
It  will   bite  you  when   you're  workin'  ;   it  will  bite 

you  when  you're  shirkin'  ; 
It  will  bite  you  if  you're  husky  ;  it  will  bite  you 

if  you're  frail. 
All's  one  to  the  mostjuiter,  who  is  never,  never 

frail. 


'/ 


It  is  pitiless,  pernicious,  energetically  vicious, 

But  the  angels  seem  to  love  it,  for  I've  never  killed 
one  yet ; 
And  alihouga  I  ain't  no  hero  I  long  again  for  zero, 
For  the  blamed  mosquiter  gets  it  in  the  neck  them 

days,  you  bet ! 
In   the  neck  the  critter  gets  it,  and  serves  him 
right,  you  bet  ! 


40 


Klondyke  Ballads 


A  MINER'S  CHIEF  THOUGHT 


O 


F  what  docs  a  miner  think 

When  his  day's  hard  work  is  done  ? 
Docs  he  dream  of  his  girl  at  home? 

Docs  he  think  of  the  vagrant  sun  ? 


Docs  he  think  of  his  mortgaged  farm, 
Or  the  debts  that  he  left  unpaid 

In  the  land  he  forsook  for  one 
Where  seldom  a  cent  is  made  ? 

Not  much.     As  he  smokes  his  pipe 

He  gives  his  head  a  rub, 
And  schemes  how  to  raise  the  wind 

Enough  for  his  next  month's  grub. 


41 


Klondyke  Ballads 


w 


I, 


1  ' 


\  .»' 


PIMPLY  PETE 

piMPLY  PETE  was  a  sickly  cuss, 
-*-        He  never  was  well,  and  he  sometimes  was  wuss 
And  one  day  he  sighed  and  he  said  to  us, 
"  I'm  goin'  to  die,"  says  he. 

We  tried  to  jolly  poor  Pimply  some, 
But  he  wouldn't  be  jollied  ;  and  we  was  dumb 
When  he  said,  "I'm  goin'  to  kingdom  come 
For  to  get  a  fair  lay,"  says  he. 

"  This  life  is  a  farce,"  poor  Pimply  said, 
"  And  our  claims  are  oncertain  until  we're  dead  ; 
And  only  then  do  we  find  a  bed 
That  .suits  our  bones,"  says  he. 

"  I'm  sick  of  sufiferin'  day  and  night 
From  cold  that  freezes  and  winds  that  bite ; 
For  nearly  a  year  I  ain't  felt  right. 
And  now  I'll  quit,"  says  he. 

42 


'  / 


'mm: 


.W*i-i.V4T.: 


_^._.:_ 


Klondyke  Ballads 

"Wh*?!!  I  was  younger  I  heard  it  told 
That  the  streets  of  heaven  is  paved  with  gold, 
And  I'm  going  up  there,  before  I'm  old, 
To  strike  for  a  lay, ' '  says  he. 


"This  Klondyke  here  is  a  low  down  bluff. 
And  the  way  wc's  treated  is  pretty  rough ; 
But  heaven,  I  guess,  is  sure  enough, 
And  I'll  give  it  a  try,"  says  he. 


"  I've  led  a  pretty  oncertain  life— 
But  then  I  had  an  oncertain  wife  ; 
And  that's  as  bad  as  a  butcher-knife 
Between  the  ribs,"  says  he. 


"  But  now  she's  dead,  and  I  guess  she's  found 
Some  handsome  angel  to  take  her  round 
And  show  her  the  sights ;  so  I'll  sleep  sound- 
Thank  God  for  that,"  says  he. 

43 


Klondyke  Ballads 

Then  Pimply  kept  infernally  still 
And  we  saw  as  how  he  was  pretty  ill, 
But  we  says,  "You'll  live  if  you  has  the  will." 
*'I  ain't  the  will,"  says  he. 


And  then  he  shivered  from  heel  to  nose 
And  looked  at  us  till  we  almost  froze  ; 
And  then  he  turned  uj)  his  eyes  and  toes 
And  never  a  word  said  he. 


t    u 


,     I 


1      jctor  came  and  examined  his  juice, 
And  said  that  flapjacks  had  settled  his  goose. 
We  planted  him  there,  behind  that  spruce, 
And  wrote  on  a  stake,  wrote  wc  : 


,    7 


i 


"  Here  lies  the  ruins  of  Pimply  Pete, 
Who  suffered  from  flapjacks  and  chilly  feet ; 
We  hopes  he's  gone  where  he  gets  some  heat, 
For  he  was  a  brick,  was  he." 

44 


Klondyke  Ballads 


THE  LAST  SACK  OF  FLOUR 

'T^IS  the  last  sack  of  flour 
*~     Left  standing  alone  ; 
Its  expensive  companions 

Are  eaten  and  gone. 
1  heir  shrouds  in  the  corner 

Awaken  vain  sighs, 
As  I  ponder  o'er  biscuits, 
O'er  doughnuts  and  pies. 


'Tis  the  last  sack  of  flour 

A  small  one  at  that , 
And  I  fear  I  shall  die  like 

A  famishing  rat. 
For  'twill  cost  fifty  dollars 

In  black  sand  ana  dust 
To  purchase  a  new  one — 

And  oh,  I  am  bust  ! 

45 


riiiiii 


Klondyke  Ballads 


HOW  WILLIE  LEARNED  TO  SWEAR 


\1/'HEN   Willie   left   the   homestead  where  his 

^  *        parents  did  abide, 
And  braved  the  dreaded  Chilcoot  and  the  terrors  of 

"  inside," 
A  slender  lad  he  was,  sir,  a  youth  most  primitive, 
With  neither  bones  nor  character  and  just  too  good 
to  live. 


engine 


His  parents  hugged   him   fondly   when   the 
gave  a  shriek, 

Thus  suggesting  very  kindly  that  they'd  better  make 
a  sneak ; 

And  Willie's  voice  grew  husky  when  he  bade  them 

au  re  voir 
And  departed  for  Seattle  in  a  tourist  sleeping  car. 

46 


Klondyke  Ballads 
At  the  stations  many  maidens 


crew 


came  to  see  the  eager 


^\'ho   were   leaving   for   the   Klondyke    in 
strange  and  new ; 


apparel 


And 


And 


one  and  all  .nv  Will.e,   blue-eyed  Will,  with 
checks  aflame, 

one   and   all   sighed   fondly   and    murmured. 
'  H  hat  a  shame  ! ' ' 


'pon  his 
so,    "When  you  lie  upon 


A   minister  who  saw  him  placed  a    .. 

head, 
Saying  mildly  as  he  did 

your  bed 

I"  the  Klondyke.  may  the  angels  keep  you  ^fe  and 
irce  from  harm, 

And  be  sure,  in  buying  blankets,  that  the  same  are 
good  and  warm. ' ' 


Little  Willie  reached  Seattle  and 


his  cash 


On  bacon,  beans  and  flour,  and 


commenced  to  spend 


evaporated  trash ; 


47 


Klondyke  Ballads 

On  woollen  goods  and  overalls,  on  hardware,  drugs, 

and  furs, 
Mosquito  netting,  rubber  boots,  and  five  enormous 

curs. 


These  canines  caused  him  trouble  till  he  chained 

them  'neath  the  hatch, 
And  left  them  there  to  meditate,  and,  very  soon,  to 

scratch  ; 
And  then  he  bribed  a  steward  to  feed  them  twice  a 

day, 
Then  hied  him  to  his  stuffy  berth  and  moaned  the 

time  away. 


He  had  a  fellow-sufferer,  and  very  soon  there  sprang 
The  comradeship  between  them  of  men  who  are  to 

■     hang ; 
And  when  they  got  to  Skaguay  they  were  partners, 

and  each  swore 
None  ever  knew  true  partnership,  such  partnership, 
before. 

48 


Klondyke  Ballads 


Of  the  trij,  across  the 


summit,  of  the  hardshi])s  of 


turn 


the  trail, 

1  say  nothing,  but  that  Willie  very  often  would 
pale 

When  he  heard  his  partner  swearing  like  a  demon  in 
the  sleet — 

Heard  him   curse  the  trembling  canines-saw  him 
argue  with  his  feet. 


as 


Little  Willie  kept  his  temper,  but  that  was  all  he 
kept; 

For  his  partner  stole  his  outfit  on  Lake  Bennett 
he  slept, 

And  Willie  had  to  purchase,  at  a  most  unheard  of 
price, 

Beans  and  bacon  to  subsist  on  till  he  reached  his 
Paradise. 


Still  the  dogs  had  not  been  stolen,  but  they  missed 

a  master's  hand. 
And   would   soldier   in  the    traces   in    a  way   dogs 

understand ; 

49 


Klondyke  Ballads 

They  would  rend  their  leather  harness  or  would  ride 
upon  the  sled, 

And  AVillie,  ever  patient,  often  wished  them  frozen 
dead. 

At  last  his  heart  grew  bitter  as  he  pondered  night 
and  day 

How  his  trusted  partner  fooled  him,  and  at  last  it 
made  him  say 

When  the  dogs  were  extra  lazy,   «'It's  ashamed  of 
you  I  am, 

You  naughty  little  doggies. ' '     Then  he  blushed  and 
muttered,  "  Damn  !" 


But  that  "  damn  "  meant  Willie's  downfall ;  for  the 

dogs  would  cock  an  car 
When   they  heard   the  word   familiar,   which   filled 

their  souls  with  fear  ; 
For  from  "  damn  "  it  grcNv  to ,  and  from 

even  worse, 

And  before  young  Willie  knew  it,  he  had  mastered 

how  to  curse. 

50 


ild  ride 
I  frozen 


i  night 


med  of 
sd  and 

for  the 

filled 

I  from 

istered 


Klondyke  Ballads 


THE  YUKON  PIONEER 

chances  he  takes  to  clear 

Ti     '--'-partitions  the  sheep  ta„  the  goats 
in  the  outer  fields  of  hea%en. 
If  I  ivere  a  Pioneer  fd  pray 

for -he  good  of  my  soul  by  night  and  day- 
I  would  ! 

■^'\7"'"*=^"^-«°nccr  is  Wicked  or  p.o„e 
to  crime;  j^-ujil 

Ho  is  better  by  far  than  is  many  a  man  With  a 
chance  to  go  the  gait  ■ 

""'t^Thfr'r'""'''-''^"^™  "<»--- 

tftan  the  hes  that  Time 


Klondyke  Ballads 

Has  listened  to  all  these  centuries,  while  j,'rindinfe 
his  teeth  with  hate. 
Why,  the  sun  in  disgust  forsakes  the  sky 
When  the  Pioneers  start  in  to  lic- 
it does ! 

The  story  is  told  of  a  Pioneer  who  never  could  tell 

a  lie ; 
But  'tis  said,  in  extenuation,  by  those  Nvho  knew 

him  best 
That  had  he  a  tongue  to  talk  with  (he  had  cancer, 

by-the-by) 
He  had  certainly  been  awarded  a  medal  by  all  the 

rest. 
For  'tis  held  'mong  all  good  Pioneers 
That  truth  is  a  subject  fit  for  tears- 
Just  think  ! 


f< 


ij  %'u 


They  sit  in  the  gloom  of  the  wintry  months  and  lie 
about  (iod  anfl  man  ; 
They  lie  about  grub,  and  they  lie  about  dogs  ; 
they  lie  about  heat  and  cold  ; 
52 


m'I 


Klondyke  Ballads 

They  lie  about  mortgaged  homes  and  farms;  they 
He  as  they  only  can  ; 
They  lie  about  strikes  and  fool   stampedes   and 
claims  that  contain  no  gold. 
They  sooner  would  lay  them  down  in  death 
Than  pollute  the  air  with  a  truthful  breath — 
That's  what. 


Oh,  great  and  grand  were  the  Pioneers  who  con- 
quered the  Golden  West, 
And  we  wish  we  had  lived  in  the  good  old  days 
when  they  were  in  their  youth  ; 
But  greater  by  far  arc  the  Pioneers  who  braved  the 
Chilcoot's  crest. 
And  crrscd  their  dogs,   and  their  partners,   too, 
and  never  can  tell  the  truth — 
Who  give  no  thought  for  the  good  of  their 

souls, 
Though  the  Devil  makes  merry  and  orders 
more  coals. 

Ha,  ha! 

53 


Klondyke  Ballad.. 


I     I 


'  I 


THAT  FIRST  FLAPJACK 

WHEN  I  made  my  maiden  flapjack  I  was  still  a 
tender  youth, 
Inexperienced  and  reckless,  caring  little  what  wc 
ate 
If  it  only  stilled  our  hunger,  which,  to  tell  the  very 
truth, 
Like  the  poor  was  ever  with  us,  and  would  never, 
never  wait. 

When  we  landed  first  in  Dawson  wc  purchased  our 
bread. 
But  the  habit  was  expensive — so  I   thought   I'd 
save  our  dust 
\\y  making  tasty  flapjacks,  for  as  Bill,  my  partner, 
said, 
"  If  you  mix  'cm  good  and  plenty  we  can  eat  'em 
till  wc  bust." 

54 


I 


Klondyke  Ballads 

When  I  asked  him  for  directions  I  found  that  all  he 
knew 

Was  contained  in  that  one  sentence,  and  that  I 
must  depend 
Upon  my  ingenuity  to  pull  me  safely  through, 
And  so  construct  a  flapjack  that  would  keep  him 
still  my  friend. 

So  I  took  five  cups  of  water  and  a  cup  of  "  Price's 
Best," 

And  stirred  the  mess  with  water  till  my  strength 
was  wellnigh  spent ; 
Then  I  salted  it  profusely,  and  put  it  to  the  test 
In  the  largest  of  our  fry-pans,  and  it  looked  just 
like  cement. 


The  stove  was  hot  as  Hades,  and  while  the  minutes 
passed 

My  heart  was  beating  wildly,  for  I  feared  the  thing 
might  burn  ; 
And  when  I  tried  to  shift  it  I  found  it  anchored  fast. 
For,  having  put  no  grease  in,  the  flapjack  wouldn't 
turn. 


Klondyke  Ballads 

But  I  dug  around  it  gently,  though  I  injured  it  a  lot, 
And  then  prepared  to  flap  it  as  I'd  seen  some 
miners  do ; 
Then  I  grabbed  the  pan  adroitly,  but  the  handle 
was  so  hot 
That  I  dropped  it  on  the  instant  and  my  smoking 
flapjack,  too. 

With  a  spoon  we  scooped  the  remnants  from  the  table 
and  the  floor, 
And  placed  them  in  the  fry-pan  with  a  little  bit 

of  lard. 
And  they  mixed  in  perfect  friendship,  and  I  let  them 
bake  some  more 
While  I  waited  several  minutes,  cloth  in  hand,  and 
breathing  hard. 


Then  I  grabbed  again  the  fry-pan,  and  I  tossed  that 
flapjack  high— 
•'Too  high,"  as  Bill  said,  sadly,  though  the  roof 
withstood  the  shock, 

56 


^  % 


IBHHI 


Klondyke  Ballads 

And  the  falling  flapjack  hit  him  fair  and  squarely  in 
the  eye, 
While  I  looked  at  him  astonished,  for  he  stood  it 
like  a  rock. 


) 


'3. 


Well,  I  scraped  it  off  his  shoulder,  and  I  placed  it 
in  the  pan 
And  let  it  bake  some  minutes  till  the  underside 
was  brown  ; 
Then  the  beans  and  tea  were  ready — so  the  two  of 
us  began 
To  compare  our  maiden  flapjack  with  the  bread 
they  sold  in  town. 


x\ 


"It's  pretty  hard,"    Bill  muttered,    "and  I  guess 
we'll  need  the  axe 
To  break  it  into  pieces,  but  that's  healthy,  I've 
heard  tell ; 
And  the  stuff  we  got  in  Dawson  was  more  like  dough 
or  wax. 
And  this  will  keep  our  teeth  sharp,  and  be  some 
fun  as  well." 

57 


(i 


■>,^ 


Klondyke  Ballads 

Bill  always  was  good-hcartcd,  and  he  acted  very  kind 

About  my  first  day's  cooking,  and  said  some  pretty 

things 

About  my  handliii;;  flour  which  I  (jiinot  call  to  mint!, 

Exccj)!  that  beans  and  flapjacks  was  fodder  fit  for 

kings. 

Then  Dill  he  took  the  hammer  and  he  broke  in  little 
squares 
The  flapjack,  and  wc  soaked  it  many  minutes  in 
our  tea  ; 
And  weatc  it,  every  morsel,  for  wc  alwaysatc  like  bears, 
And  Bill  said  he  enjoyed  it  and  it  could  not  better 
be. 

That  was  many  years  ago,  sir,  and  since  that  time 
and  now 
I've  made  a  million  flapjacks,  and  the  hair  from 
off  my  head 
Has  fallen  in  the  fry-pan  with  the  moisture  from  my 

brow, 
And  my  patient  Klondyke  partner  is  silent — i)eing 
dead. 

58 


^1  i 


Klondyke  Ballads 

But  though  I  go  on  living  till  Rill  has  grown  his 
wings, 

The  day  I  made  that  flapjack  I  shaU  never,  sir, 
forget ; 
I'll  remember  how  he  i)raiscd  it,  and  called  it  food 
for  kings, 
Then  broke  it  with  his  hammer,  and  ate  it  up, 
you  bet ! 


i 


.  \ 


59 


V. 

1 1 


t 


Klondyke  Ballads 


SOUR  ORAPES 

\    H    '!..l  is  not  of  lamb  and  grcc 
-t    -         .  itoes,  )  .cs,  .ind  i)ortcr  ; 

W'c   I  ra'hcr  dmc  ofl  pork  and  l    aiis 
Wasiic  i  dow     With  nice  snow  water. 


And  tell  u>  not  of  feathf  beds 
W  herein  a  man  might  stifle 

On  pou.i,  hard  bunks  w^       y  our  luads 
And  deem     hue  shccs  a  tr.tlc. 


And  tcM  us  uot  of  pretty  girls 
And  eh      uh      conversations; 

We'd  -ooncr  taik  vvuh  Sweden  and  i  m 
About  our  dogs  ar     rations. 


Klond    e  Ballads 

An-'  tell  'I  '■'^t  about  the  sun, 
Nor  p    i      f  bccs  and  (lowers; 

I  hi-  St  .u^loominc  ;  is  fun  — 
\\  c  \\oi     in    '  for  hours 


\\ 

r  \ 

Yv- 

f 

For  so. 

ur  ! 

. 

lea    ■'  ■  news, 


,h  V 


i-S 


t  o  star  c,  we  luve  to  freeze, 

V  '  n  to  latch  the  fever , 

I'.ut      len    vc  quit  inis  lovely  plate 
i|uit       111  bet,  tu  leave  her ! 


6i 


i  f 


5     • 


Klomtyke  Ballath 


I  '   "^ 


T 


APPRECIATION  IN  DAWSON 

*HF:  sliow  had  been  a  good  one  and  the  miners 
were  in  tears 

And  wiped  their  weeping  foreheads  on  their  yellow 

niackinaws  ; 
They  whistled  and  they  shouted  ;  they  indulged  in 

mighty  cheers, 
And  almost  broke  the  floor  in  as  they  stamjied 

their  wild  applause. 


Then  they  stood  in  knots  together  while  the  leading 

lady  came 
To  the  front,  and  curtsied  slowly  till  she  almost 

touched  the  ground  ; 
And  the  miners  got  excited,  and  they  called  her  by 

her  name 

Till  the  lady  danced  on  lii>-toc  and  you  couldn't 
hear  a  sound. 

63 


Klondyke  Jiallads 

And  while  she  pirouetted  up  and  down  and  to  and 
fro, 

And  the  orchestra  of  seven  scraped  and  thumped 
and  tootlc-toohed, 
The  miners  talked  together  and  considered  how  to 
show 

Their  umiuaiified  approval  of  a  Juliet  in  the  nude. 

They  talked   for  many  minutes;   then  they  pushed 
toward  the  front 
(Having  silenced  first  the  music)  a  miner  known 
ns  lUiss — 

Roarin'    Russ,  of  Circle  City-who  gave  a  sort   of 
grunt 

As  he  dearetl  his  throat  for  ac  tion,  and  addressed 
the  lady  thus: 

"My  gal.  there's   no  dcnyin'  that   you  saveys  how 
to  ac  t, 

And  your  Jooliet  w;is  i)erfec  t  as  to  actin'  and  to 
shape  ; 

63 


AdiMM  ^« 


KlonJyke  BallaJs 

And  as  long  as  you  is  hired  you  can  chalk  it  down 
a  fact 
That   the   I'ioneer  Theayter   will   never  wear  no 
crape. 


■1' 


'M 


"  We  ain't  so  mighty  friendly  to  your  little  Rome-o, 

For  he  makes  \oo  hloomin'  easy  with  a  lady,  so 

we  think  ; 

But  you  was  just  a  hiuumer,  and  durin'  all  the  show 

We    never   took    to    yawnin'    or    to   orderin'    of 

drink. 


"  We're  sorry  that  the  ])arson  made  a  bungle  of  his 
work, 
And  the  lii|uor  was  too  heavy  for  a  lady  of  your 
<  la.ss  ; 
And  we're  sorry  for  your  cousin  who  was  killed  by 
Romy's  tlirk  — 
Yet  you  louldn':  !>ut  e.xpect  it,  for  that  Romy  is 
an  ass. 

64 


Kloniiyke  fiallads 

"  Now,  what  we've  been  a  talkin'  of  is  how  to  show 
you  best 

That  we  like  your  style  and  H^rnrc,  and  we  decided, 

fust , 

That  as  a  gal   is  human,  and  must  eat  and  be  well 
dressed, 

We  couldn't  do  no  better  than  to  offer 
dust. 


you  some 


"  Then  we  knew  as  how  in  'Frisco  lady  actors  whom 
one  knows 

(lets  violets  or  something  with  a  smell  that's  good 
and  strong. 

Hut  in    Dawson  there's  no  flowers,  and  the  bottled 
scents  is  froze — 
So  we  thought  of  something  better  and  we  hope 
we  ain't  done  wrong. 


"  You  know,  I  guess,  by  this  time  that  vegetables  U 

A  quite  onheard  of   luxury  in  this  yere  minini: 

hell ;  *" 

65 


Klondyke  Ballads 

Nor  love  nor  money  buys  'em,  nor  jjull,  and  so,  you 
see, 
'I'hey're  worth  much  more  than  roses  and  healthier 
as  well. 


;Vi. 


"  \Vc   (annot   get    you    flowers;    Init    my    i)artner, 
Lousetown  Joe, 
Has  a  crate  of  frf?sh  jjotatocs,  and  we  offers  you  a 
third ; 
Anil  here's  the  sack  of  gold  dust,  and  we're  mighty 
glad  to  know 
That    you'll   never  get   the  scurvy — for,   Jooliet, 
you're  a  bird." 

Then  the  laily  dropped  a  curtsey  and  grabbed  the 
little  sack. 
And  said  that   Mr.  Tybalt  (better  known  as  Pot- 
luck  Pete) 
Would  fetch  the  spuds  to-morrow  ;  then  she  pirou- 
etted back 
And  the  miners  yelled  together  until  they  struck 

the  street. 

66 


Klontlyke  Ballads 


IN  WINTER 

T)KANS  and  bacon  thrice  a  day, 
^^     Such  is  our  diet ; 

We  could  live  off  better  fare 

Had  we  dust  to  buy  it ; 
But  our  sacks  are  void  of  gold, 

No  one  gives  us  credit ; 
We  are  in  a  pretty  fix, 
But  we  grin  and  bear  it. 


Fruit  is  coming  to  an  end, 

Ditto  our  flour ; 
Once  a  week  we  hit  our  mush 

Mush,  the  source  of  power. 
Neither  milk  nor  sugar  now 

Graces  our  table  ; 
Once  we  had  a  stock  of  meats — 

Now  we  read  a  label. 
67 


I 


Klondyke  Ballads 

Sunday  is  our  day  for  spuds, 

Coffee  comes  on  Friday  ; 
Thursdays  we  partake  of  rice, 

Tuesday  7Lias  our  pie  day. 
He  who  mentions  butter  now 

Has  to  wash  the  dishes  ; 
Still  we  hope  to  re.i'ize 

Some  day  our  wishes. 


68 


)•;' 


Klondyke  Ballads 


COOKING  IN  THE  KLONDYKE 

T^HERE'S  something  burning  on  the  stove," 
The  first  che-chd-ko  said  ; 
"  It  doesn't  smell  like  bacon, 
Sol  guess  it  is  the  bread." 

"The  bread  be  d ,-  the  cook  replied 

(A  mighty  cook  was  he), 
"I  haven't  baked  the  stuff  as  yet ; 

"Perhaps  it  is  the  tea!" 

"  The  tea  can't  burn,  you  stupid  ass," 

His  partner  made  reply. 
"  I'll  bet  you've  spoilt  beyond  repair 

My  baking  powder  pie. ' ' 

"The  pie  you  brag  about,"  said  cook, 

"  Was  baked  this  early  morn. 
'  •'^'cd  a  piece  of  it  and  wished 

I  never  had  been  born." 


Klondyke  Ballads 

The  first  che-chd-ko  jniffcd  his  pipe 

And  thought  him  what  to  say. 
"  (lod  knows,"  said  he,   "  that  your  pies  are 

Far  heavier  than  clay." 


"  You  eat  them  all  the  same,"  said  rook, 
"  And  half  my  share  as  well. 

But  something's  burning — that  is  sure  ; 
I  know  it  by  the  smell." 


"  I  say  it  is  the  bacon,  sir  !" 

"  And  I  say  it  is  not !" 
The  cook  then  opc'd  tlic  oven  door. 

And  swore,  for  it  was  hot. 


"  Ye  gods  !"  he  yelled,  "  'tis  one  on  you, 

Your  gum  boots  I  espy  ! ' ' 
Tlic  first  chc-chd-ko  held  his  peace — 

He'd  put  them  t".  .re  to  dry  ! 
70 


Khmdyke  Ballads 


BII.I.  MrGKF: 


a 


A   RK   you   takin*   any  men   on,   boss?"  askcf! 
^^^     Billy  J.  ^fcGce 
Of  the  man  who  ran  Red  Murphy's  claim,  homin 

The  foreman  si^cd  the  speaker  up.  thr-i  r-o  h;,-, 
says  he: 

"  V'ou  look  a  husky,  skookum  man,  so  you  can  work 
for  me. 

An.!  you'll  find  thnt  I  am  pretty  s,,uare  if  mc  and 
you  agree." 


Now,  Bill  was  only  five  foot  high  lu.t  broader  than  a 
bear  ; 

His  legs  looked  thick,   his  ba(k  looked  broad,   his 

shoulders  good  and  scjuare  ; 
He  had  a  I)  Profundis  voice,  accounted  somewhat 


rare ; 


71 


KlonJyke  Ballads 

His  hands  were  hid,  his  arms  looked  long,  as  likewise 

did  his  hair, 
But  in  his  forehead  there  were  lines  that  spoke  of 

constant  care. 


;'.^ 


So  Rill  McGce  first  got  his  ji)l)and  then  he  said: 

"  I  say, 
You've  took  me  on  to  work  for  yon,  Nut  how  ahoiit 

my  pay  ? 
I  ain"t   the  sort  to  work  blimr*!   h.>rd,  and  then   he 

told  some  day 
There  ain't   no  money  in  tlie  dump  and   I   .  aii   walk 

away. 
That's  what  three  fellows  had  tn  do  on  27  A." 


f 


'['he  foreman    roiierl   Ins   plug  around,  then   looked 

Bill  in  the  eye. 
"  Nou're  all  ri-ht,  Hill,"  he  s.iys  to  him,    "  I  likes  a 

man  what's  spry. 

72 


Klondvke  Ballads 

This  ^  V>^  a  (lead  sure  thing,  giimboot  me  if  I  lie  ; 
•F'herc's  fifty  thousand  in  that  chinii)— just  take  a  paii 
and  try." 

Bill  took  a  pan  and  found  .,  chunk.      He  dropped  it 
with  a  sigh. 


When  Hill  M.Ccc  hegan  to  work  they  set   him  haul- 
ing wood, 

But   every   man    upon   the  .  laim    hauled  more  than 

Billy  ( Diiid  ; 
He  slipped  an.!  stumbled  on  the  snow,  and  when  at 

last  he  stood 

He  almost   f„./c  himself  to  death,  an.I,  though  that 
isn't  gooil. 

I'he  foreman  swore  at   IJ.Il   Mcdec  and  only  hoped 
he  would. 


So  Bill  was  set  to  sawing  logs,  and  he  .sawed  a  lou 


two, 


og  or 


But    the   third   one   al^^    ^s    stumped     him,    for    he 
•  ouldn't  saw  it  thruu^Ji ; 
11 


Klomiykr  Ballads 

The  rol(i   ,it tacked   his  fingers  and  his  lips  looked 

|)rctty  bhic, 
And  the  forem.iM  j,"jt  cxritcd  ,\nd  told  him  who  w.is 

wh), 
And  asked   him  wli.it  he  livetl  for,  and,  pr.iy.  what 

<oii!d  he  do  ? 


^^^ 


I'lien   l.ill  next  tried  the  windlass,  hut  he  clidn't  try 

it  long  ; 
For  tIi(Mi-h  liis  ;irm>  lookc«l   powerful  and  lhou;,'h  his 

bac !;  looked  strong 
He  roiil.int  hoi>t  the  bucket,  and  the  foreman  sang 

a  song 
(Though  t'  -•  words  weren't  very  proper  >  and  asked 

him  wh.u  wis  wrong, 
Ami  drove  him  fnjtn  the  windlass  and  wished  him  in 

Hong-Kong. 


IJut  the  foreman  was  a  Christian,  although  he  had  to 
kick  ; 

So  he  sent    Bill  down  the  ladder  with  instructions 
how  to  pick ; 

74 


Klondykf  HallaJs 

But  a  rung  gave  way  beneath  him  and  he  landed  hke 

a  brick, 
And  they  put  him  in  the  bucket  and  hauled  him  u|. 

darned  quick, 
But  Hillys  neck  wi,    orokcn  and  he  «as  looking  sick. 

They  laid  hmi  in  an  outhouse  where  the  dead  man 
«|uickly  froze  ; 

And  the  friendly  foreman  i.uittered  as  he  sadly  blew 
'  s  nose : 

"  '''^'=^  ''^c  is  d uncertain  and  pretty  full  of  woes. 

And  the  men  who  die  the  (juickest    s  generally  those 
Built   i.owerful,  like   Bill   here,  whose  days   is  at  a 
close." 


'       liked  him  good  and  y    ■        •     nc  burly  mi   cr 
said, 

As  he  drummed  his  fingers  lij:      .- .  .  .^c  dead  man's 

icy  head. 
"  He  never  ate  no  butter  on  his  flapjacks  or  his  bread, 
And  never  used  no  sugar— I  took  his  share  instead. 
But,  boys,  he  never  oieondrcsscd        ore  he  wei.i 

to  bed  ! '  • 

75 


Klondyke  Ballads 

The  miners  thought  it  funny  and  shook  their  heads 

thereat, 
Till  he  who  praised  the  dead  man  removed  his  mitts 

and  hat. 
"We'll  take  'cm  off  him  this  time,"  he  said,  and 

then  he  spat. 
'•  W'c  haven't  got  the  linen  for  to  wind  around  a  « at, 
i'.ut  we'll  sew  him  up  in  sacking  and  let  it  go  at  that." 

.And  so  they  took  Hill's  clothes  off,  and  none  of  them 

could  si)eak 
.\t    first   from   sheer  ama/cmcnt  at  what   they  <  ailed 

his  '-.hcek." 
The  foreman  broke  the  silence:    " 'I'hat  Hill,  there, 

was  a  freak, 
-And  if  he  still  was  living  I'd  labol  him  a  sneak. 
I  always  had  to  wonder  why  the  fellow  was  so  weak." 

F-roin   off   the    corpse  before    them    they   t(X)k   two 

uuukinaws. 
Three  shirts  and   heavy  undcrvests  and   four  thick 

pair  of  drawers  ; 

76 


BHMl 


KlonJyki'  Hallath 

Three  pair  of  raiiv:is  overalls  and  sot  ks  it  seems  by 
scores  ; 

And  when  they  j,'ot  to  U'drock  they  almost  broke  ir. 
roars 

Of  laughter  at  the  foreman,  who  thought  they  had 
gootl  ( aiise. 


Tor  Hill  was  over  sixty  and  was  maile  of  bone  and 

skin, 
And   the  miners  when   they  cye<l    him   had  to  turn 

aside  and  grin. 

His  arms  were  like  two  matches  ;   ea.  h  leg  was  like  a 
pin — 

Vou  tould  almost  look  right  through  him  he  was  so 

very  thin. 
And  for  surh  a  man  to  labor  it  really  seemed  a  sin. 


Hut  they  tovercd  him  with  sacking  sewed  as  neat  as 

neat  could  be, 
And  they  fixed  him  ui>  for  shipment  to  his  friends 

across  the  sea. 

77 


Khmiykf  flaffads 

And  the  foreman  muttered  softly  :   "  If  there's  a  fool 

it's  me, 
For  I  was  made  a  fool  of  by  that  there  T^ill  McGee  ; 
But  now   he's  dead  forever— so  I've  the  laugh  on 

he." 


!  r4' 


tl 


nmm 


